Supper with the Crippens: A New Investigation into One of the Most Notorious Domestic Murders in History

by David James Smith

At a time when Edwardian Britain seemed a golden place, American physician Hawley Harvey Crippen and his wife, Belle, lived among the suburban villas of North London. After supper on January 31, 1910, the guests departed, and Crippen poisoned Belle, dismembered her, and buried part of her remains in the coal cellar. Crippen never confessed, taking the secrets of the crime with him when he was finally hanged for murder. It is assumed that Crippen killed for the love of his mistress, Ethel Le Neve. Living together as man and wife, but under intense suspicion, they fled disguised as father and son. The chase was widely reported in Europe and America, and Crippen was finally apprehended. In Supper with the Crippens, David James Smith reinvestigates this celebrated murder case.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

David James Smith is the author of six acclaimed non-fiction books and is an award-wining journalist for The Sunday Times Magazine of London. His latest book LET US PREY - A TRUE STORY OF MURDER AND DECEPTION is an Audible Original, available exclusively on Audible read by the author. It is an account of the Maids Moreton case. His first book, THE SLEEP OF REASON - THE JAMES BULGER CASE is in a new edition from Faber (2017) and remains the definitive account of the 1993 murder of a child by two ten year old boys. David has a close interest in criminal justice and served five years (2013-2018) as a Commissioner at The Criminal Cases Review Commission, appointed by HM The Queen to oversee investigations into miscarriages of justice. He was a local newspaper reporter and wrote for the monthly magazine Esquire before joining The Sunday Times Magazine, for whom he travelled around the world writing cover stories, investigative articles, reportage and profiles. It was an article for the Magazine that led to his second book, ALL ABOUT JILL: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JILL DANDO, which was published by Little Brown in 2002. Barry George was convicted and later acquitted of the infamous 1999 shooting of the television presenter on the doorstep of her London home. SUPPER WITH THE CRIPPENS, about the notorious Edwardian crime was published by Orion in 2005 and is currently in development as a drama series for television. ONE MORNING IN SARAJEVO made a gripping non-fiction thriller out of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in June, 1914: it was published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson in 2008. YOUNG MANDELA is the story of the early life of the iconic South African activist and leader who died in 2013. The biography was published in 2010 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK and Little Brown in the US. David’s research involved interviews with most of Mandela’s close family and comrades, including Winnie Madikezela-Mandela, and culminated in a meeting with Nelson Mandela himself.

Reviews

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to realise that a man with the pleasant demeanour and ordinary appearance of Mr Crippin could have been guilty of such a calculated and macabre crime as the murder and dissection of his wife. The last time that his wife Cora was seen was at a supper party to which they invited another couple who were their close friends. All seemed well between the couple but it later emerged that Crippin had been having a liaison with his secretary Miss Ethel Le Neve, Ethel was much younger than Crippin and it was suggested that he had such a hold over her that she would have done anything to be with him. The book gives quite a few theories about the relationship and whether or not Ethel actually knew that Cora was dead and buried in the cellar but I find it hard to believe that Ethel could have gone to such lengths as dressing as a boy and running away with her lover had she not known of Cora's demise. Ethel remained silent on the matter right up until her death at the age of 84. The facts were fascinating and I really enjoyed the book, the only slight criticism would be for me that there was a bit of repetition in all the evidence throughout the statement taking and the court case and letters in the press.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read "Supper With the Crippens" several times. There is just something about this particular murder story that I find fascinating. Dr. Crippen looked like such a little mouse of a man, his wife Cora (stage name : Belle Elmore) looked as voluptuous and gregarious as a Western saloon girl, and his mistress looked like such a pathetic little thing. Is it that is seems so incredible that Dr. C had the strength, let alone the nerve, to murder his wife? Is it that, had it not been for a sharp-eyed ship's captain and a newfangled invention on his ship called a wireless-telegraph, Dr. C and Ethel Le Neve might have made a clean escape to Canada? Is it that Ethel looked so cute in her boy's clothes, on the Montrose? I don't know, but there are times I just can't get enough of the tale.

This is a good read. Mr. Smith lets no one get through his version of the story with a halo on his or her head. Not Inspector Dew. Not the forensic scientists for both sides during the trial. Not Miss Le Neve. Certainly not Doctor Crippen. Cora / Belle gets more respect than other writers about her murder give her. She was a poor music hall artiste; but she was a great campaigner for the Music Hall Ladies' Guild charity, and several of her colleagues were her good friends. Still - and Mr. Smith admits it in his book - almost everyone involved in catching, convicting and executing Crippen liked the man when they met him. Almost everyone thought Ethel was a little innocent. Mr. Smith doesn't think she was so naive; but he admits he can't prove she knew her lover killed his wife, or that she helped him cut her up.

Thunderstruck is another good book: partly about the Crippen murder and partly about Marconi, his wireless invention, and his rival inventors.

The Mild Murderer: The True Story of the Dr. Crippen Case is another very good book about the murder case.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen and his wife, Belle, lived in a rented house at 39 Hilldrop Crescent. Following supper with two of their friends, Crippen appears to have poisoned his wife and cut up her body, burying her under the cellar floor. Moving his mistress, Ethel le Neve, into the house, he also gave Ethel some of Belle’s jewellery and clothes. But when police became suspicious, the pair fled Britain in disguise, until arrested and brought to trial.

David James Smith presents a well-researched and fascinating account of the events leading up to the trial, as well as creating a picture of Edwardian Britain that brings the story to life in great detail. I had read a book about the case many years ago, but this author highlights information that has only come to light recently, leaving no doubt that, despite the Doctor’s mild-mannered appearance, it’s likely he did kill his wife for the love of another woman.

However, there are questions the author doesn’t answer, such as, was the body under the cellar really that of Belle Elmore? To what extent did Ethel know about her lover’s plans, and why did Inspector Dew resign from the police force immediately following Crippen’s unsuccessful appeal? The answers may not be known and even if they were, might not make any difference to the conclusion, but the fact Crippen never admitted to the murder is a little troubling.

An engaging and thought-provoking book.

[Mrs B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has picked a fascinating story for his well-researched book: the tale of Dr. Crippen who was found guilty of murdering his wife, and then going on the run with his girlfriend Ethel.

The problem with this particular story, though, is that there are too many unanswered questions. How Belle died, how much Ethel knew, and what drove Crippen to his desperate acts are all matters of speculation - which while intriguing is ultimately unsatisfying for a reader looking for conclusions and answers.

[Amanda Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Recommend.

A bit slow to start with but got better as the case unfolded. Thoroughly researched and well written, with a lot information and detail I had not read before.
Overall an excellent read. Recommend.

[Lord Bathcanoe of Snark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent study of a classic English murder case. The story has been covered so many times in so many different ways, but Smith manages to bring it fresh appeal.
A must for the true crime buffs collection.

[Anne Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grim fascinating and puzzling read. It’s got 4 stars because I’m a bit of a crime ghoul. So beware if you have a weak stomach, it might not be to your taste. Very well researched, but at the finish it’s always going to be a complete mystery, motive, method etc as the Doctor didn’t fess up!

[Jazmin Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather hard to get through.

[Marianne]

I just couldn't get into it. I tried!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

H H Crippen was convicted of murdering his wife, Belle Elmore (aka Cora Crippen) after remains were discovered in the basement of their home.
The mild-mannered American doctor fled the country prior to his home being searched along with his mistress and what followed was a highly publicised chase and trial in which his secretary/mistress Miss Ethel Le Neve was free to live on while he was sentenced to hang.
This book covers as much as is physically possible to find on the case. Its title comes from the fateful evening when Mrs Crippen was last seen alive, as she hosted friends for supper. What really happened is a mystery as DNA evidence was not possible at the time and the identity of the pieces of flesh found could not be 100% determined. This book explores several theories, looks at the life of the victim, the suspect and the suspect's mistress, the aftermath and more.
It was a fascinating read and while it leans towards a belief in Crippen's guilt, it covers all angles.

[Vicky Mortimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stuff ;-)